Couch-bed.



No. 10,450. PATENTED JAN. 1

w. E.- FRANK a; 0. 0. TAYLOR.

00mm BED, APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 11, 1905.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co., wAsmNGroN. m c.

PATEN TED JAN. 1907.

W. E. FRANK & G. U. TAYLOR. COUCH BED.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1905,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATBNTED JAN. 1, 1907.

w. E. FRANK & 0. 0. TAYLOR.

COUCH BED.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 11 l905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. FRANK AND CALVIN O. TAYLOR, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

. COUCH-BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented Jan. 1, 1907.

vto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an improved convertible couch-bed which embodies novel arrangement of parts whereby it is particularly adapted to be converted from a couch to a bed, and vice versa, and which also embodies particular features of construction which adapt it to be easily and cheaply constructed, easily taken apart and i packed for transportation, and make it strong and desirable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of our improved couch-bed arranged as a couch, a portion of the covering being removed to exhibit a part of the frame construction. Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the couch-bed with the same arranged in. the position of, a couch. Fig. 3 shows a similar cross-section with the movable parts in a half-opened or half-closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view in the completely-opened position, wherein the same is adapted to serve as a bed. Fig. 5 is a partial plan view with the couch opened out as a bed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing the con struction of spring employed in the construction'.

Referring to the reference letters and fig ures in a more particular description, 1 1 in-- dicate the end frames of the main frame, which end frames are connected together by side rails 2 2. The connectionbetween the said side rails and end frames is preferably by a detachable corner-fastener 3, whereby the side rails and end frames may be readily disconnected at this point, so that the main frame, consisting of said end frames and side rails, may be readily taken apart.

The main movable parts of the bed consist of what we would call the back-section 4 and the seat-section 5. Each of these consists of a base-frame supporting anumber sisting mostly of wire, as will be hereinafter, explalned, and which frames 7 directlyreceive and act as supports for the hair mattress or other covering. The back-section 4 and the seat-section 5 are hinged together at 8 in a line substantially corresponding with that of the hair mattress or bedding on the uppersurface of said section. The back-sea tion 4 is mounted on hangers 9 at either end, which project nearly at right angles to the plane of the section and are rigidly connected to the frame of the back-section. The upper ends of the hangers 9 are provided with button-head projections which engage in keyhole-like openings in the piece 10, secured on and forming a part of the end frame. The arrangement of the headed projection and the keyhole-like opening is such that these point by raising the section to the upper end of the keyhole-opening and then springing the hanger v 9 inwardly. The frame of the section 5 is connected with the side rail 2 on the front side of the main frame by links 12, which are adapted to take a horizontal position, extending inwardly toward the central line of the main frame when the construction such position and also adapted to take a position extending outwardly in a horizontal plane when the construction is intended to form a bed and lock the parts in such extended position. Between these two extreme locking positions the links 12 serve to form a carrier to swing the seat-section and hold it connected with the main frame, as well illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. On the rear edge of the seat-section, preferably in the middle, there is provided a leg 14. To facilitate the operation of the seat and back sections, this leg is near its lower end connected by a spring 15 with the side rail 2 on the rear side of the main frame. This spring and this leg serve to throw the balance of the sections off from the links 12 when in upright position, so that the same may be easily operated. The leg 14 is preferably long enough to reach the floor and support the middle .of the rear edge of the seat-frame, particularly when in use as a couch but it need not necessarily do so.

To operate the bed from its couch position to the bed form, it is simply necessary for the operator to take hold of the front of the seatsection 5 and raise it up. In so doing the toggle-joint lock, as between the links 12 and parts may be readily disconnected at this' is arranged as a couch and lock the parts in i f ed position.

the seat-frame 5, is broken, and the links 12 swing over from the inwardly-extending horizontal position to an outwardly-extending horizontal position, where they again act as a toggle-lock, with the frame 5 to secure the parts in extended position. As the seatsection moves outwardly from a position in the main frame to a position in front of the main frame the back-section swings down from its upright position at the rear of the main frame to a position in the main frame. It may be noted at this point that the seatsection 5 is provided at the front edge with a pair of legs 17, adapted to rest on the floor and support the seat-section when in extend- In the open position the rear edge of the seat-frame 5 is adapted to rest on the front side rails 2, while the rear edge of the back-section 4 is adapted to rest on the rear side rails 2. The back-section is also when in horizontal position supported by the hangers 9 from the end of the frame. This opening operation can be accomplished without moving the main frame away from the normal position, which it may occupy adj acent to a wall.

To convert the couch-bed from the bed to the couch form, the operator takes hold of the outer edge of the seat-section and first lifting it up moves it over in a curved path, following the direction determined by the links 12 until it rests on the front rail 2. In this operation the back-section moves out of the main frame and assumes its upright posi tion at the rear.

In constructing the seat and back sections of the couch-bed we employ-coil-springs of a peculiar constructionthat is to say, having the arm at extending tangentially away from the end convolution of the sprin These arms are provided with an eye on t eir ends,

' as indicated at a, adapted to receive the cross-wires b, and are of length to suitably space the springs on the said wire I). Lon itudinally of the seat and back frames tie supporting-surface is formed by wires 0 in connection with the springs, and said wires 1) and these said wires 0 are provided with off- I sets 0, which engage the end convolution of The section as is a thick section, While sections y and 2 are thin sections, the thin sections substantially equaling the thick section as. The section 2 will preferably be tied or otherwise secured to the back-section of the bed, while the other two sections will not require to be secured otherwisethan by the hingejoint between the three parts. The section 2 and 2* together will constitute a padding for the back-section of equal thickness to the section w on the seat-section. One surface of the section may be upholstered with a fine material, which will be on the outer surface when the device is arranged as a couch, and upholstered on the other surface with ordinary ticking, which will be uppermost when the device is arranged as a bed. Both surfaces of the section :10 will preferably be of ordinary material, such as ticking, while as to section 2 the upper surface will be uph olstered in a fine material, which will be the covering of the back when in a couch form.

We would like to have it noted that for the purpose of transportation the whole construction can be taken apart in the following manner: The hangers 9 will be disconnected from the end frames of the main frame at the upper end and the back and seat sections folded together, inclosing the mattress between them. The end frames of the main frame will be disconnected from the end of the side rails, and the end frames may be also inclosed between the folded sections of the seat and back. This leaves the side rails 2 free, and the same may be bound together by wires 01 cord, forming a very compact package not liable to injury in transportation. In this dismantling of the construction we would also note that the ends of the links 12 can be disconnected from the side rails, while spring 15 is also disconnected from the side rails, and the legs 17 are arranged to be disconnected or folded into closed position.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a couch-bed of a frame having end supports above the plane of the frame, a back-section hinged directly to the end supports by hangers rigid with the back-section, a seat-section hinged to the edge of the back-section and arranged to take positions in the frame and in front of the frame, and legs to support the front side of the seat-section, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a couch-bed of a main frame, a back-section provided with hangers rigid with the section and pivoted to the upper part of the main frame and arranged to swing from an upright position at the rear to a horizontal position in the main frame, a seat-section hinged to the side of the back-section and legs to support the forward edge of the seat-section when extended, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a couch-bed of a main frame, a back-section provided with hangers rigid therewith and pivoted to the upper part of the main frame and arranged to swing from an upright position at the rear of the main frame to a horizontal poslti on in the main frame, a seat-section hinged to the edge of the back-section and links connecting the seat-section with the forward side of the main frame and serving to .lock the sections in open or closed position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a couch-bed of the main frame, a back-section provided with hangers rigid therewith and pivoted to the upper portions of the main frame and arranged to swing from an upright position at the rear of the main frame to a horizontal position in the main frame, a seat-section hinged to the back-section and provided with meansffor supporting the outer edge when extended, and links connecting the seat-section with the forward side of the main frame and arranged to turn over from a horizontal position on the one side, locking the seat-section in position in the main frame to a horizontal position opposite, locking the seat-section in extended position, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a couch-bed of a main frame, a back-section provided with hangers rigid with the back-section and pivoted tothe upper portion of the main frame and arranged to swing from an upright position at the rear of the main frame to a horizontal position in the main frame, a seatsection hinged to the back-section and arranged to be moved from a position in the main frame to an extended position in front of the main frame, links connecting the seatsection with the forward side of the main frame adapted to lock the sections in open or closed positions, and a spring means for assisting the opening and closing movements of the movable sections, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination in a couch-bed of a main frame consisting of end frames and side rails detachably connected, a back-section provided with hangers rigid therewith and pivotally connected at detachable points with the upper parts of the main frame and arranged to swing from an upright position at the rear of the main frame to a orizontal position in the main frame, a seat section hinged to the back-section and adapted to be moved from a position in the main frame to an extended position in front of the main frame, and means for locking the back and seat sections in their two mentioned positions, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof we have aflixed our signatures, in presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of August, 1905.

WILLIAM E. FRANK. CALVIN O. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

J. F. HELLRUNG, SrLAs B. FLINT. 

